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(No Model.) 7 I v v G. M. HUBBARD.

GURRYGOMB.

No. 493,029. Patented Mar. '7,' 1893.

c/, $4.8M I:

UNi'rnn STATES ATENT Enron.

GEORGE M. HUBBARD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO W. &

E. T. FITCH, OF SAME PLACE.

CURRYCOM B.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,029, dated March 7, 1893.

Application filed A g s 15, 1892. Serial No. 443,085- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. HUBBARD, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Currycombs; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a back view of the comb, Fig. 2, an end view of the same. Fig. 3, a modification of the formation of the finger-loop.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of curry-combswhich are made from sheet metal, consisting of a back with several ribs upon its face, more or less of the ribs being toothed, the object of the invention being to provide a grasp for the comb so that the user may firmly hold the comb between his thumb at one edge of the comb, and fingers upon the opposite, edge of the comb.

The invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

A represents the back of the comb, which is provided on its face, with the usual ribs B, more or less in number. At one edge of the back, a thumb-grasp C, is applied, which projects upward from the back, and turns outward so as to form a convenient hold for the thumb. Upon the opposite side, an outwardly inclined loop D, is arranged, and this loop is best made in the form seen in Fig. 1, and so as to produce two openings E, E, corresponding to the two fingers of the hand. As represented in Fig. 1, the loop D, is connected to the thumb-grasp C, by a bar F, extending across the back so that the thumb-grasp and the loop may be cast in a single piece, and thus secured to the back by rivets, as shown. The loop D, projects beyond that side of the comb, and inclines outward, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, so that while the thumb takes the grasp C, the fingers may pass through the loop D, and grasp that side of the comb. The loops thus inclined project beyond the fingers, and serve as a guard for the fingers, and so that the user while holding the comb in the grasp between his thumb and fingers, may use the loop as a knocker, to clear the comb, the loop protecting the fingers from contact with whatever the loop may be struck upon, in the knocking operation.

Instead of making the loop D, with two openings, as seen in Fig.1, it may be made in the form of a long loop, as seen in Fig. 3, and the loop made separate from the thumb grasp, as seen in that figure,but in this case, as in the first, it is essential that the loop shall incline forward from the plane of the back, and beyond the edge of the comb, to which that loop is applied, and so that when the fingers are inserted through the loop, the loop forms a guard for the protection of the fingers.

The thumb-grasp may be extended so as to form a shank for the attachment of a handle, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 2, in cases where a handle is desirable, but such a handle is not essential to the invention.

I am aware that a sheet-metal curry-comb provided upon one of its edges with a thumbgrasp, and upon its opposite edge with an inwardly inclined loop arranged to be grasped by the fingers as a handle would be grasped, is old. In that construction, however, the loop serves merely as a handle, and not as a guard, or as a knocker, the clearing of the 80 comb being effected by turning the wrist and striking its edge against any convenient surface. On the other hand, in my improved comb, the loop is inclined outwardly, and the fingers pass within the loop, which therefore projects beyond them to form a guard, and to serve as a knocker, while in the prior device that I have referred to, the fingers are clasped around the outside of the loop. I do not claim, therefore, a curry-comb having a thumb-grasp and a loop, but only a construction in which the loop is inclined outward beyond the edge of the comb so as to act as a guard and a knocker, and when constructed and adapted to have the fingers passed under it.

I claim-- 1. In a curry-comb of the class described, the combination therewith of a thumb-grasp 0, upon one edge, and a loop D, upon the opposite edge, the said loop extending from the I00 back of the comb, obliquely outward, and so as to project beyond the edge of the comb, the said loop being adapted for the insertion of the fingers, and so as to form a guard therefor and a knocker for clearing the comb, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a curry-comb of the class described, the bar F, extending across the back, and secured thereto, the bar terminating at one end in a thumb-grasp C, and at the other end in a loop projecting beyond the edge of the comb, and inclined outwardly, the said loop being adapted for the insertion of the fingers, and

so as to form a guard therefor and a knocker for clearing the comb, substantially as and [5 for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M HUBBARD.

itnesses:

LUoIUs H. PRINDLE, FRED H. BALDWIN. 

